Eloy Detention Center Reopens After Measles Outbreak

July 19, 2016

An immigration detention center in Arizona reoponed Tuesday, nearly two months after it was struck by the largest measles outbreak in the country.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement made the decision to resume normal operations at the Eloy Detention Center, Tuesday, said spokeswoman Yasmeen Pitts O'Keefe.

The adjacent immigration court reopened Monday. The court had been completely shuttered and the detention facility partially closed since late May when an outbreak of measles was first reported.

Since then, 22 measles cases were reported in Arizona, most in Pinal County but also at least one case in Maricopa County. ICE employees at the detention center had failed to show they were vaccinated and frustrated county and state health department officials who tried to administer free measles vaccinations but were refused.

Pitts O'Keefe said medical staff is continuing to monitor detainees for signs of measles, but declined to state whether all ICE employees are now vaccinated, citing security and confidentiality concerns.

ICE employees are not required to receive measles immunizations to work at Eloy, but did provide workers pamphlets describing the dangers of the disease and the importance of vaccinations. O'Keefe said the policy is "consistent with that of other federal and state agencies that operate detention facilities."